Personnel records

A personnel file provides a record of the key correspondence, events and developments in the course of an individual’s employment. Employers use personnel records to keep track of the employment relationship.

The Data Protection Act 1998 requires that employers follow various data protection principles when handling personal data, which includes information contained in personnel files. For example, personal data should be kept no longer than necessary, meaning that employers can eliminate personal information that is no longer relevant once the employment relationship has ended.